New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-10


swore twice to clear his mind and having
finished swearing no ordered the prisoner to be
brought to him.
In the same breath he countermanded the order,
sworc again to show that he knew what he was
about, and said he would see the prisoner in MS
cell. lie was conducted thther at once, and went
in alone.
Number 900, in accordance with his regular
habit, was spending the half-hour before bedtime
in little quiet meditation, and had just been
specializing IS to the simplest and least trouble
some method by which he might effect his escape,
for the monotony Of an improbable confinement
began to be irlisOme to him.
IIo read the pllrport of ttc Governors visit In
his face and readily OWNED the causes to which
it owing the wardcrs had sent the Governor
to Intcrrosatc AMI intiinidatc HIM.
| Whit thenp "IOoh y said the prisoner to him.
self. "Poohl -
"Y'u are accused Of creating disturbances in
the prison." said the Governor, and went on TO
lay his charge
While he srolic the prisoners eye was cngascd
in f;iict but rigorous scrutiny Of the Governors
features, and such points in his character as dis
covered themselves there were quickly noted.
"Pooh !" the prisoner said to himself once more,
for ho had satisfied himself that tue Governor also
was susceptible.
The Governor finished his harangue and swOre
once twice TO show that he meant what he said.
lie was man who did not swear except upon &C.
casion
81 going TO take you in hand, my man -
said tho Governor, at the conclusion CT his charge.
And you, my man n responded the prisoner
in dulcet but penetrating tones.
The Governors first thought was that he had
mailman TO deal WITH and his hand went behind
him i'll an instructive search for the d'or.
Remain where you are, said the prisoner, OBJ
serving the Governors movement. Il will show
you the door bye .and.byci'
The Governor, WHO was n bulky man and full of
blood. crimsoncd from one car to the other. and
his throat and the bald space en- his head grew
rcd as well. There was q rafting IN his throat,
| and then he said:
DO you know that can have you flogged to
| the bone for this. prisoner?7
ayes, yes but we will not talk Of that. You
and arc going TO be excellent friends said Num-
Der 222.
DO you know who amp The Governors
eycballs were red now, and no was just able to
artculatc.
Perfectly. But do you know who You are
! Come now tell me your namc.'
The Governor made effort to shout for as
sstance, but his tongue clave to his palate and he
could not get speech
Tell me your namc,' said the prisoner sooth-
| insly and as he spoke he waved both hands gently
before the Governors face.
Il am Major George Alexander Fordyce. will
have you 1ogged to DEATH responded the Gov
ernor
why will you talk of fogging?' said Number
222 with smile. Let us leave all that We
must be pleasant. / like your NAME but suppose
1 give you another. Tut, tut you must not glare
az me like that. I will make you call yourself by
whatever l choose
| Iic made another pass over the Governors face
and the fury vanished from it. but duh and
sulen look came in its place.
"Sit down here upon this bucket while think
OF another name for you. So'-for the Governors
muscles had tugged him down. though he resisted
with the whole force Of his will. Now let me
think. l must give you a name which shall be
quite absurd and meaningless. Ii will be such
fun. youlinow and You shall accept il deletcdly.
See now. I'll call you 1iclSletoby the Tenth Isn't
1t fun Now, once more, what Is your name p
! The Governor sat silent upon the bucket, but
expression the most pite)us imaginable oyerspread
his features.
What is your name p repeated the prisoner
"Don't!' plcalcd the Governor ANY name
Dut thatl IL Is 50 very very foolish
Your name, sir. your name y said the inexor-
able prisoner.
Tick No. no, please Any name in the
world but that -
Resist me further and will dissolve YOU where
you sit Now for the last time your nane!7
"Icklc-to-by thc-thc Tenth. murmurcd the
Governor. from who,e lip, the foolish wofds were
wr7lng by the sheer wlll-powcr Of the p isoner
Two Passes more and the Governor smiled on
him. and p. denounced the name quite checrfuly.
Good - exclaimed Number 222. Il told YOU
we should be excellent friends. One word more
and have done with you You are my slave at
present, but III five minutes | shall be yours We
are very friendly now and insist that you re-
main my friend in your waking state. DO YOU
understand me? | VIII 1t to be SO.
i shall certainty remain your friend replied
the Governor IN tone Of the most emphatic
willingness.
VERY good Get OF the bucket can't have
you sitting there when you find yourself in au-
| thority again, for you look very ridiculous and
would wonder what had been happening
The Governor smiling, and the moment he
stood on his feet he was the same man who had
entered the cell twenty minutes earlier.
Number 222 was in dcfcrential attitude before
MIN and had ms the Governor imagined, lust con-
Guided statement which made il clear that he
had been malc.ously accused
His feeling toward the prisoner was kindly and
when Number 222 asked some slight favor Of him
nc granted IL and wished him goodnight
Number 222 went u bed and slept TRANQUILITY.
The next day he decided finally that he would
quit the prison, for despite the conqucsts he had
made within its walls lac very tired Of it. In
no long time lie had evolved and shaped his plan
1t was an adrot, and even brilliant plan. II
fascinated tic author himeclf. Two whole days
he dwelt upon IL. porcd over it, toycd with it and
rugged it to himself; for the cunning of it fiat
tered his vanity. lie felt scientific interest in
II, apart from all question Of It's probable pos
siblc issue, for this clan involved the submission
Of lis powers TO a great and decisive test.
Briefly, it is this lie was to procure his release
from prison without the lifting Of q finger or the
uttcraDce Of n syllable in his own behalf.
Did such achievement lie within the compass
Of human skim
AT this time there WIS residing In well ap
pointed chambers in Cork street. Pccadilly, a
young man fayorably known to the best society
as the Hon. Alan Bcdc FitzGibbon. lie was a
well-bred and gracious young man, for whom fam
lily connections. transparent penmanship. and an
unusual reverence for the Constitution had COM
bncd TO procure the post of junior assistant
secretary to the Secretary Of State for the Home
Department.
One evening, some three four days after
Number 222 had resolved obtaining his free
DOM this young man dressed himself for bail,
and entered cab which was to take him to the
house of his entertainer in Kensington